Patriots OT Veldheer retiring after nine seasons

The New England Patriots placed recently signed offensive tackle Jared Veldheer on the reserve/retired list Tuesday.

ESPN reported earlier in the day Veldheer informed the team he planned to retire.

Veldheer, who turns 32 in June, joined the Patriots on May 13 as a free agent, signing a reported one-year, $3.5 million deal worth up to $6.5 million with incentives.

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A nine-year veteran, Veldheer started 12 games at right tackle for the Denver Broncos last season after being acquired via trade, allowing just one sack but committing seven penalties.

He spent the previous four years with the Arizona Cardinals, playing primarily left tackle before moving to the right side in 2017. A third-round pick of the Oakland Raiders in 2010, Veldheer made 113 career starts in 118 games, with the majority at left tackle.

Isaiah Wynn, a 2018 first-round pick, was expected to get the first shot at starting on Tom Brady's blind side after incumbent left tackle Trent Brown left for the Raiders in free agency. Wynn is recovering from a torn Achilles sustained in August.

New England also lost swing tackle LaAdrian Waddle to the Buffalo Bills in free agency.